well, if nnl new jersey governor chris christie thought that getting out front on his weight issue and laughing about it on late night would silence his critics, well, it didn't work. instead the tough-talking republican who famously downed a donut on letterman has brought on a firestorm of talk. does his weight weigh heavy on his political future? joining us now live is michael simons, the statehouse reporter for the asbury press, and he is the author of chris christie, the inside story of his rise to power. just before the governor's late night appearance, it gives him this all-time high favorability rating. 70% of voters in your state like him. even a majority of democrats. the weight is not holding him back in new jersey. does it make a difference on a national stage? >> aink that becomes one of the first conversations he has to have almost any time he is being introduced to a new audience. you can't, obviously, ignore the fact that he is overweight, and i think that as he gets out on the national stage will he have to talk about it. he doesn't want the discussion to be a disqualif